Battle of Delville Wood, a commemoration

A landscape of pastoral tranquillity near the French village of Longueval became the focal point on Sunday 10 July for the 95th Commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood, which saw people honouring those who gave their lives for freedom.

People travelled from a far and near with a shared purpose to honour those fallen soldiers who still lie in the wood and in the beautifully kept cemeteries, more like English country gardens, dotted all over the Western front. They walked up the avenue of oak trees planted from acorns harvested from the original oaks brought to the Cape by the French Huguenots centuries ago.

These people included a young schoolboy from Johannesburg who was there to remember his masters and old boys who fell here, an Afrikaans woman remembering the South African Infantry Brigade, a university professor with a picture of a family member connected to the battle, and a retired army general still with an unmistakeable military bearing, and many others with their own special dedications.

Non-commissioned officers from the army, air force, navy and military health service provided the sentries and colour party. Senior officers of the SANDF together with French and Commonwealth colleagues provided the military atmosphere that befits such a solemn occasion.

South African and French military veterans also proudly paraded in their colours. French government officials spoke with gratitude about the sacrifice made on behalf of the French people by South African soldiers, embraced and affectionately remembered as sons of France.

Speakers included Counsellor Multilateral, Linda Maso representing the South African Ambassador to France her Excellency Dolana Msimang and, director general of the newly formed Department of Military Veterans Tsepe Motumi. He spoke passionately about the need to honour our military veterans who sacrificed their lives for freedom not only during the Great and other wars but also in Southern Africa to bring about freedom and dignity for all.

Major General Stephen Marumo, General Officer South African Army Support Formation representing the Chief of the SANDF spoke as a soldier about the horrendous conditions in the wood during the battle. South African army chief chaplain Padre Charles Bosiki reminded everyone present of the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation as he read from the Gospels and offered appropriate prayers.

Flower wreaths were laid around the memorial by the dignitaries and the South African, French, British and Australian military personnel and other individuals while a French civilian band played. A piper from the Cape Town Highlanders played a moving lament while circling the memorial. More wreaths were laid at the village memorial and the villagers provided a lovely lunch at the village hall.

Praise is due to Tapedi Masanabo, curator and manager of the museum, for organising the commemoration with such excellence.

A similar commemoration took place on Friday 8 July at the Arques-la-Bataille cemetery especially honouring the fallen of the South African Native Contingent. Seeing South Africans, military and civilians together like that in an international setting, one could not help but to be immensely proud to be South African and to remember the words of former President Nelson Mandela. â€œWe shall build a society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of the inalienable right to human dignity – a at peace with itself and the world.”

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